Supreme Court Justice MM Sundresh reserved an order on Thursday, warning that Delhi‑NCR’s firecracker ban is slipping into a yearly repeat without real impact. He said the court’s previous directives are followed more in breach than in compliance, and that the court will not return next year if enforcement remains absent.
The judge’s remarks came amid a hearing that highlighted the poor implementation of the ban. He urged officials to show concrete prosecutions and enforcement steps, noting that the court’s repeated hearings risk becoming academic if violators are not held accountable.
Additional Solicitor General Bhati argued that a blanket ban on firecrackers is not the answer. Instead, the court stressed the need for awareness campaigns, especially targeting youth through schools and public figures. Virat Kohli was singled out as a potential ambassador for a safer celebration.
The court will soon issue a balanced order that takes religious sentiment, health, and environmental concerns into account. It also demanded detailed enforcement data from authorities, including prosecution records and actions taken against violators.